Pre-constructed buttonhole and method of incorporating same in a garment

ABSTRACT

A pre-constructed buttonhole consisting of components independent of an article to which they are to be attached, and a method for incorporating the components into a material to form a finished buttonhole. The components consist of a reinforcing piece disposed on the surface opposite the exterior finished surface of the article, and buttonhole pieces having tab-portions disposed on the finished surface of the article. A slit is made which extends through the reinforcing piece and layers of material composing the article. The tab portions of the buttonhole pieces are inserted through this slit to the exterior finished surface of the article and affixed thereto to form a buttonhole. The buttonhole components are manufactured from continuous strips of material. The individual components may be separated prior to being placed in the hands of the user.

United States Patent [451 Oct. 31, 1972 Spetz [541 PRE-CONSTRUCTEDBUTTONHOLE AND METHOD OF INCORPORATING SAME IN A GARMENT [72] Inventor:Mary Ann Spetz, 5675 Fiercier.

. Court, Utica, Mich. 48087 [22] Filed: May 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:141,293

[52] US. Cl ..2/266, 156/253 [51] Int. Cl. ....A4lf l/02 [58] Field ofSearch ....2/266, 243; 112/264; 156/253 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 7 1,066,477 7/1913 Feder ..2/266 X 2,731,644 1/ 1956Matthies..; ..2/266 2,922,167 1/ 1960 Berlin ..2/266 X 3,536,554 10/1970Weiss ..2/266 X 3,547,060 12/1970 Lepore ..2/266 X 3,587,501 6/1971Cruden ..2/266 X Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney-Irving M.Weiner [5 7] ABSTRACT A pre-constructed buttonhole consisting ofcomponents independent of an article to which they are to be attached,and a method for incorporating the components into a material to form afinished buttonhole. The components consist of a reinforcing piecedisposed on the surface opposite the exterior finished surface of thearticle, and buttonhole pieces having tab-portions disposed on thefinished surface of the article. A slit is made which extends throughthe reinforcing piece and layers of material composing the article. Thetab portions of the buttonhole pieces are inserted through this slit tothe exterior finished surface of the article and affixed thereto to forma buttonhole. The buttonhole components are manufactured fromcontinuous, strips of material. The individual components may beseparated prior to being placed in the hands of the user.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnmm .912

SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG.2A

FIG.2B

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IIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIII I Illll'lllll nu IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII a. I III. IIII I'IIIIIIIIII MAE/Wm? MARY M p5 rz PRE-CONSTRUCTED BUTTONHOLE AND-METHOD OF INCORPORATING SAME IN A GARMENT BACKGROUND oF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains tothe field of art encompassing making an opening in a material for mdecorative or functional purposes, especially that part of the fieldpertaining to making buttonholes in wearing apparel. The presentinvention may be used to make decorative and/or functional buttonholesin any material capable of being slit.

2. Description of Prior Art There are prior art methods'and devices formaking simplified buttonholes, such as attachments for sewing machines,special dies used to emboss buttonhole forms, and various methodsutilizing patches of fabric sewn or bonded to the material in which abuttonhole is to be placed, all of which require varying degrees ofskill and dexterity of manipulation. No prior art method or device iscapable of doing what the present invention can do, viz., to make aprofessional appearing worked type buttonhole without the use of asewing machine attachment or special equipment, adaptable to anymaterial from which a garment can be made, and installable in areaswhere it has been heretofore impossible to install durable buttonholes.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a pre-constructedbuttonhole for installation in a material, such as wearing apparel,including a buttonhole reinforcement piece adapted to be affixed to thematerial such that it will not be visible from the exposed surface ofthe material. The reinforcing piece has a cutting guideline adapted toaid making uniform slits in the material. Substantially identicalbuttonhole pieces having tab portions adapted to pass through thebuttonhole slit are themselves adapted to be affixed to the material.

The present invention also provides a buttonhole attached to a material,such as wearing apparel, including a buttonhole reinforcement piecelocated in a selected area of the material such that it is not visiblefrom the exterior finished surface of the material, and the buttonholepieces with tab portions also located on the material such that they arenot visible from the exterior finished surface of the material exceptfor the tab portions which extend through the buttonhole slit and areaffixed to the exterior finished surface of the material.

In addition, the present invention provides a pre-constructed buttonholeforinstallation in a material consisting of buttonhole pieces with tabportions. The buttonhole pieces being adapted to be affixed to thematerial such that they will not be visible from the exterior finishedsurface of the material except for any tab portion which extends throughthe buttonhole slit and are adapted to be affixed to the exteriorfinished surface of the material.

The present invention also provides a method for installing apre-constructed buttonhole in a material such as wearing apparel. Themethod includes the steps of placing a buttonhole reinforcement piece onthe material such that it is not visible from the exterior finishedsurface of the material and affixing it to the material by applying heatto a heat activated adhesive. Then, using a pre-measured cutter, a slitis cut through the buttonhole reinforcement and material. Next, anyinterfacing and facing material that is used is placed over the materialto which the buttonhole reinforcement piece is affixed, and injuxtaposition thereto. A slit, aligned with the previously made slitthrough the buttonhole reinforcement piece, is cut with a pre-measuredcutting instrument through the interfacing and facing material. The tabportions of the buttonhole pieces are then inserted through the slit andfolded over on the exterior front surface of the material. Heat is nextapplied to fix the buttonhole pieces in place on the exterior andinterior finished surfaces of the article, and encompassing any and alllayers of material in between.

In addition, the present invention provides a method of manufacturingthe components of a pre-constructed buttonhole, consisting of abuttonhole reinforcement piece fabricated from continuous yardages ofmaterial on which are placed buttonhole cutting guide lines to aid inseparating the continuous yardages of material into separate buttonholereinforcement components, an heat-activated adhesive on the surfaceopposite the cutting guide lines. The buttonhole pieces are fabricatedby embroidering continuous patterns of tab portions on continuousyardages of material on which are placed cutting guide lines to aid inseparating the continuous yardage of material into separate buttonholepieces. A heat-activated material is applied to the wrong side of theembroidered material. An alternate method of manufacturing thebuttonhole pieces is to weave continuous strips of material, one edge ofwhich is straight and the opposite edge having exposed tab portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 7 FIG. 1 is a top view of thereinforcement piece or first component according to one possibleembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are top views of substantially identical buttonholepieces or second and third components according to one possibleembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are top views of substantially identical buttonholepieces or second and third components according to another possibleembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the pre-measured cutting blade according to onepossible embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of one possible embodiment of the present inventioninstalled in a portion of material.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, of thepresent invention installed in a portion of material.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5, of thepresent invention installed in a portion of material.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a continuous strip or wide yardage of materialincorporating a plurality of reinforcement pieces according to onepossible embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a continuous strip or wide yardage of materialincorporating a plurality of buttonhole pieces as they appear when tabportions are embroidered. I

FIG. is a top view of a continuous strip or wide yardage of materialincorporating a plurality of buttonhole pieces as they appear whencontinuous rows of embroidery are made to accomplish a nested layout oftab portions.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a continuous strip of material incorporating aplurality of buttonhole pieces as they appear when the material isformed to expose the tab portions prior to the embroidery operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS patterns of individualbodiment of the first component or reinforcement piece 1. This firstcomponent 1 is constructed of a substance suitable for the material onwhich it is to be installed. Disposed on the first component 1 is abuttonhole cutting guideline 3 to aid in cutting a buttonhole slit, anda plurality of stitches 5 which define the length of the buttonhole slitand act as reinforcements. Disposed on the surface opposite the cuttingguideline 3 is a heat-activated adhesive 6 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an embodiment of substantially identicalsecond and third components or buttonhole pieces 7 and 9, respectively.These components 7 and 9 are constructed of a substance suitable for thematerial on which they are to be installed. Located on the components 7and 9 are tab portions 11 and 13 of a depth appropriate for thethickness of the material on which they are to be placed, and to allowthe tab portions 11 and 13 to extend through the material and to befolded on the outside surface of the material. Close stitching 15 and 17of a thread suitable in weight and color for the intended application islocated along the tab portions 11 and 13, respectively. Disposed on onesurface of the components 7 and 9 is a heat-activated adhesive 19 and21, respectively.

If desired, the land portions 23 adjacent the tab portions 11 and 13 ofthe buttonhole pieces 7 and 9 may be finished with a stitching. Thestitching 15 and 17 may be made from the same continuous thread used forthe land portions 23 to keep the ends of the stitching 15 and 17 fromfalling off the tab ends.

FIGS. 3A and B illustrate another embodiment of substantially identicalsecond and third components 25 and 27 with scalloped tab portions 29 and31, respectively. By varying the pattern of the tab portions, differentdecorative designs can be achieved when the button hole is viewed fromthe outside of the material on which it is installed. I

Illustrated in FIG. 4 is a pre-measured cutting blade 33 which may beused in making a slit in the material and in the first component 1. Theblade 33 is the same length as the cutting guideline 3 (see FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, one form of a buttonhole constructionof the present invention formed in a material or garment piece 35 isshown. Insofar as the material in which the buttonhole is to beinstalled is concerned, it isunderstood that the buttonhole may beinstalled in any material of varying thickness or plurality of layers.In the description of the method to follow reference will be made to aplurality of layers. However, the present invention and method may beemployed with a single layer of material.

As shown on FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a material or outside garment piece isindicated at 35. The first component 1 and the second and thirdcomponents 25 and 27 are disposed in a concealed relationship to theoutside surface of the garment piece 35 except for the tab portions 29and 31 of the components 25 and 27 which protrude through and areaffixed to the outer surface of the garment piece 35.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the material in which the buttonhole isto be installed includes a garment piece 35, an interfacing material 37,and a facing material 39. In the installation of the pre-constructedbuttonhole of the present invention, the first component 1 is secured tothe garment piece 35 such that it will not be visible from the outsidesurface making sure the side on which is disposed the adhesive 6 is injuxtaposition to the garment piece 35. Heat isapplied to the firstcomponent 1 to activate the heat-activated adhesive 6, thus fixing thefirst component 1 to the garment piece 35. Care should be taken whenapplying the heat to avoid scorching.

The pre-measured cutting blade 33 (see FIG..4) is placed on the cuttingguideline 3 (see FIG. 1) and struck on the top with a hammer or othersuitable object, thus making a slit 41 (see FIG. 5) through the firstcomponent 1 and the garment piece 35. Care should be exercised to avoidcutting-the stitches 5 (see FIG. 1).

At this point,if interfacing and facing materials 37 and 39 are beingused in the making a new garment, the construction of the garment shouldgo to completion prior to taking the subsequent steps of installing thebuttonhole.

The interfacing material 37 and the facing material 39 are next placedsmoothly in place over the first component 1 and the garment piece 35,and temporarily pinned to the garment piece 35 to assure that there isno relative movement between them during the succeeding steps to betaken.

' The cutting blade 33 (see FIG. 4) is placed into the previously madeslit 41 (see FIG. 5) from the outside surface of the garment piece 35and again struck on the top with a hammer to drive it through theinterfacing material 37 and the facing material 39.

Next, the second and third components 25 and 27 are placed together suchthat the top edge of the tab portions 29 and 31 are even, and thesurfaces on which is disposed the heat-activated adhesive 19 and 21 (seeFIGS. 3A and 3B) are exposed in opposite relationship.

The tab portions 29 and 31 are inserted through the slit 41 and protrudefrom the outside surface of the garment piece 35.

The protruding tab portions 29 and 31 are folded in opposite directionsto each other on the outside surface of the garment piece 35 as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. Similarly, the portions of the components 25 and 27 whichprotruded from the facing material 39 are folded in opposite directionsto each other.

Heat is next applied to either the outside surface of the garment piece35 or the exposed surface of the facing material 39 to secure the tabportions 29 and 31 r and the folded portions of the components 25 and 27in place. Care should be exercised to avoid scorching.

If the pre-constructed buttonhole is installed in a material 35 with anap, such as corduroy, velvet, velveteen, or a rough material, such asterrycloth, or a thick fabric it may be desirable to sew around theperiphery of the exposed tab portions 29 and 31 through the entirematerial or garment to assure proper installation.

Various modifications such as different shapes of the components 1, 7,9, 25 and 27; tab portions 11, 13, 29 and 31; as well as slight changesin the installation procedure, such as replacing the pre-measuredcutting edge blade 33 with a cutting instrument of any dimension, willoccur to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of thepresent invention and the appended claims. v

Shown in FIG. 8 is an embodiment of continuous strips or wide yardagesof a suitable material 43 which incorporate a plurality of buttonholereinforcement pieces 1. Located at desired intervals on the continuousyardages of material 43 are buttonhole cutting guidelines 3, rows ofparallel stitching 5 which define the length of the buttonhole in thebuttonhole rein forcement piece 1, and cutting guidelines 45 which actas guides for cutting the continuous yardage of material 43 intoindividual buttonhole reinforcement pieces 1.

In FIG. 9 there is shown an embodiment of continuous strips of wideyardages of a suitable material 47 which incorporates a plurality ofsubstantially identical buttonhole pieces 7 and 9. Disposed on thecontinuous yardage of material 47 are continuously embroidered patternsof individual tab portions 11 and 13. Cutting guidelines 49 may beimprinted to act as guides for cutting the continuous yardage ofmaterial 47 into individual buttonhole pieces 7 and 9.

FIG. illustrates another embodiment of continuous strips or wideyardages of a suitable material 51 which incorporates a plurality ofsubstantially identical buttonhole pieces 7 and 9. Disposed on thecontinuous yardage of material 51 are continuous rows of embroidery 53to accomplish a nested layout of tab portions 11 and 13 conservingmaterial. Cutting guidelines 55 may be applied, for example, byimprinting, to act as guides for cutting the continuous yardage ofmaterial 51 into individual buttonhole pieces 7. and 9.

Shown in FIG. 11 there is another embodiment of a continuous strip ofsuitable material 57 incorporating a plurality of substantiallyidentical buttonhole pieces 7 and 9 which have been formed to expose tabportions 11 and 13. Embroidery is placed on the exposed tab portions 11and 13, and cutting guidelines 59 are imprinted on the surface of thematerial 57 to act as guides for cutting the material into individualbuttonhole pieces 7 and 9.

It should be noted that when cutting the continuous strips or wideyardages of material into individual first, second and third components,all corners should be as round as possible to prevent corner lift off"when the components are affixed to the material.

Numerous alterations in the layout of tab portions, methods of formingthe strips of material encompassing the buttonhole components, and thelike will be suggested to those skilled in the art upon reading thisdisclosure. However, it is to be understood that the invention inrelating to preferred embodiments is for the purposes of illustrationonly. All modifications which relate to the spirit of the invention areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A pre-constructed buttonhole device which is adapted to be secured toa material, com prising in combination:

a first component which is adapted to be secured to 5 the back surfaceof said material and which is provided with a visible buttonhole cuttingguideline; second and third components, each of which is provided with atab portion having a length that is shorter than the length of saidcutting guideline; said second and third components being adapted to beaffixed to said material; and

each said tab portion being adapted to pass through a slit made in saidmaterial and said first component with the aid of said guideline andbeing adapted to be affixed to the front of said material.

2. A pre-constructed buttonhole device according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of spaced apart stitches on said first component define thebuttonhole length and act as reinforcements for the buttonhole.

3. A pre-constructed buttonhole device according to claim 1, wherein:

a heat-activated adhesive applied to one surface of said first componentacts as a bonding agent between said first component and said material;and

a heat-activated adhesive applied to one surface of .said second andthird components acts as a bonding agent between said second and thirdcomponents and said material.

4. A buttonhole attached to a material, comprising in combination:

a first component disposed in a selected area of said material in aconcealed relationship to the front surface of said material;

second and third components disposed in a concealed relationship to saidfront surface of said material;

a slit through said material and said first component;

and I tab portions of said second and third components extending throughsaid slit and affixed to said front surface of said material.

5. A buttonhole according to claim 4, wherein:

a plurality of spaced apart stitches on said first component disposedsubstantially perpendicular to said slit define the buttonhole lengthand act as buttonhole reinforcements:

a visible buttonhole cutting guideline disposed substantiallyperpendicular to said plurality of stitches is provided on said firstcomponent;

a heat-activated adhesive is applied to one surface of said firstcomponent as a bonding agent between said first component and saidmaterial;

said tab portions of said second and third components are of a length nolonger than the length of 60 said cutting guideline; and v aheat-activated adhesive applied to one surface of the second and thirdcomponents as a bonding agent between said material and said second andthird components.

6. A pre-constructed buttonhole device which is adapted to be secured toa material, comprising in combination:

buttonhole pieces which are substantially identical to each other andeach of which is provided with a tab portion having a length no longerthan the length of the desired buttonhole;

said buttonhole pieces being adapted to be secured to said material; and

said tab portions being adapted to pass through a slit made in saidmaterial and being adapted to be affixed to the front surface of saidmaterial.

7. A method of installing a pre-constructed buttonhole in a material,which comprises the steps of:

locating a first component in a concealed relationship to the outsidesurface of a first layer of said material;

applying heat to activate a heat-activated adhesive applied to saidfirst component to bond said first component in place;

cutting a slit the length of the buttonhole through said firstcomponent;

inserting tab portions of second and third components through said slitin a manner such that said tab portions protrude from the outsidesurface of said first layer of said material;

folding said protruding tab portions of said second and third componentsin opposite relationship to each other;

folding the portions of said second and third components which protrudefrom the surface opposite said outside surface of said first layer ofmaterial in opposite relationship to each other; and

applying heat to activate heat-activated adhesive applied to said secondand third components to bond said second and third components in place.

8. A method of installing a pre-constructed buttonhole in a materialsubstantially as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of cutting aslit the length of the buttonhole in said first component is furthercharacterized by:

cutting a slit the lengthof the buttonhole through said first componentand through said first layer of material.

9. A method of installing a pre-constructed buttonhole in a materialsubstantially as set forth in claim 8, further characterized by theadditional steps, immediately following said step of claim 8, of:

placing interfacing and facing material in proper relationship to saidfirst layer of material and affixing them thereto in a temporary manner;and cutting a slit the length of the buttonhole through said interfacingand through said facing material aligned with said slit in said firstlayer of material and said first component.

1. A pre-constructed buttonhole device which is adapted to be secured toa material, comprising in combination: a first component which isadapted to be secured to the back surface of said material and which isprovided with a visible buttonhole cutting guideline; second and thirdcomponents, each of which is provided with a tab portion having a lengththat is longer than the length of said cutting guideline; said secondand third components being adapted to be affixed to said material; andeach said tab portion being adapted to pass through a slit made in saidmaterial and said first component with the aid of said guideline andbeing adapted to be affixed to the front of said material.
 2. Apre-constructed buttonhole device according to claim 1, wherein: aplurality of spaced apart stitches on said first component define thebuttonhole length and act as reinforcements for the buttonhole.
 3. Apre-constructed buttonhole device according to claim 1, wherein: aheat-activated adhesive applied to one surface of said first componentacts as a bonding agent between said first component and said material;and a heat-activated adhesive applied to one surface of said second andthird components acts as a bonding agent between said second and thirdcomponents and said material.
 4. A buttonhole attached to a material,comprising in combination: a first component disposed in a selected areaof said material in a concealed relationship to the front surface ofsaid material; second and third components disposed in a concealedrelationship to said front surface of said material; a slit through saidmaterial and said first component; and tab portions of said second andthird components extending through said slit and affixed to said frontsurface of said material.
 5. A buttonhole according to claim 4, wherein:a plurality of spaced apart stitches on said first component disposedsubstantially perpendicular to said slit define the buttonhole lengthand act as buttonhole reinforcements: a visible buttonhole cuttingguideline disposed substantially perpendicular to said plurality ofstitches is provided on said first component; a heat-activated adhesiveis applied to one surface of said first component as a bonding agentbetween said first compOnent and said material; said tab portions ofsaid second and third components are of a length no longer than thelength of said cutting guideline; and a heat-activated adhesive appliedto one surface of the second and third components as a bonding agentbetween said material and said second and third components.
 6. Apre-constructed buttonhole device which is adapted to be secured to amaterial, comprising in combination: buttonhole pieces which aresubstantially identical to each other and each of which is provided witha tab portion having a length no longer than the length of the desiredbuttonhole; said buttonhole pieces being adapted to be secured to saidmaterial; and said tab portions being adapted to pass through a slitmade in said material and being adapted to be affixed to the frontsurface of said material.
 7. A method of installing a pre-constructedbuttonhole in a material, which comprises the steps of: locating a firstcomponent in a concealed relationship to the outside surface of a firstlayer of said material; applying heat to activate a heat-activatedadhesive applied to said first component to bond said first component inplace; cutting a slit the length of the buttonhole through said firstcomponent; inserting tab portions of second and third components throughsaid slit in a manner such that said tab portions protrude from theoutside surface of said first layer of said material; folding saidprotruding tab portions of said second and third components in oppositerelationship to each other; folding the portions of said second andthird components which protrude from the surface opposite said outsidesurface of said first layer of material in opposite relationship to eachother; and applying heat to activate heat-activated adhesive applied tosaid second and third components to bond said second and thirdcomponents in place.
 8. A method of installing a pre-constructedbuttonhole in a material substantially as set forth in claim 7 whereinsaid step of cutting a slit the length of the buttonhole in said firstcomponent is further characterized by: cutting a slit the length of thebuttonhole through said first component and through said first layer ofmaterial.
 9. A method of installing a pre-constructed buttonhole in amaterial substantially as set forth in claim 8, further characterized bythe additional steps, immediately following said step of claim 8, of:placing interfacing and facing material in proper relationship to saidfirst layer of material and affixing them thereto in a temporary manner;and cutting a slit the length of the buttonhole through said interfacingand through said facing material aligned with said slit in said firstlayer of material and said first component.